Jetsettersblog

The breathtaking art of the South Pacific is as close as Long Beach, at the new Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (PieAM), which opened June 12 in Long Beach, near the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA).

Like entering an island village, the museum features a traditionally peaked building and lush sculpture garden with native South Pacific plants.

A mural (by Long Beach native Art Mortimer) recreates a traditional Men’s House from the Island of Yap on the building’s exterior; while inside sculptures, textiles, paintings, wooden tools, jewelry and carvings from across the Pacific showcase the arts of the Marshall, Samoa, Guam, Fiji and Tongan islands.

Nationalities represented include Micronesian, Hawaiian, Ni-Vanuatu, Maori, Polynesian, Melanesian, Palauan, and the I-Kiribati.

Permanent and rotating exhibits as well as continually commissioned new works will be enhanced with traditional dance performances, interactive cultural demonstrations and learning programs.

PieAM was created by the late Dr. Robert Gumbiner, who died in January 2009, and includes his personal collection of Pacific Island ethnic art.

PieAM also is available for small-sized meetings and banquets.

www.pieam.org

LearnToSail.Net Celebrates National Safety Boating Week with Free Safety and Rules of the Road Downloads

In observation of National Safety Boating Week, LearnToSail.Net is running a free downloads campaign of The Rules of the Road and discounts on their educational CDs to raise safety awareness.

This week, to celebrate National Safety Boating Week, LearnToSail.Net is offering free safety downloads and 10% off all CD’s plus a Free Cruising Ebook and Free Sailing App with every order.

The Sailing App topic is “The Points of Sail” and is available for iPad, iPod, iTouch, iPhone and Blackberry. The apps also run on Mac or Windows PC. The Points of Sail App is one of 16 beginner Sailing Apps from Apps4Sailing.com, sister site of LearnToSail.Net.

In addition to the free App, free for download without purchase are The Rules of the Road, and articles on Wearing a Life Jacket and Anchoring.

Apps4Sailing.com is a website featuring beginner sailing applications for iPad, iPhone, and Blackberry, allowing new or rusty sailors access to affordable, individual sailing lessons anytime from anywhere. Taught by a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain and Instructor of American Sailing Association Classes, the lessons are arranged in the order a typical sailing course. Starting with Parts of a Boat, the lessons continue on to other topics such as Wind Theory, Balance, The Points of Sail, Leaving Docks and Moorings, Tacking, Person Overboard Techniques, Righting a Capsize, Knots, Anchoring and much more. These topics are taught using narration, animation and digital video. The user is free to select whatever class she or he wishes to take at anytime and from anywhere on Earth.

The Cd’s “Learn to Sail with Multimedia VOL I and II” and “Learn Coastal Navigation” at LearnToSail.Net are structured to follow the order of a typical sailing or boating course. The topics are taught using Narration, Animation and Digital Video.

There is a Nautical Dictionary, Sailing Terms Glossary and Quiz.

The user is free to move around the program as she or he pleases and at whatever pace they set.

Both programs are designed to run on all versions of Windows and are easy to install.

“It is very important that all boaters know the Rules of the Road and safety measures.”, states Linda Cullum, CEO of LearnToSail.Net. “I am hoping boaters will come to our website just for the free downloads on safety. There are alot of newbies out there every season and I surely hope they are up to date with rules and safety gear.”

Sailing instructional software is a useful tool and beneficial to those who want to learn or brush up on their skills.

Sailing maneuvers can be taught and practiced anytime of year and conveniently at home.

The user controls the pace and level of learning.

This allows more time to absorb new information.

When it is time for those hands on summer classes, the educated beginner, familiar with terms and technique, will have a greater return on investment.

Advanced lessons are also on the agenda for Apps4Sailing.com. The lessons were created using “Learn to Sail with Multimedia VOL I and II”. Adding 20 years of instruction experience, Captain Susan Smith enriches the learning environment by going into great detail with each lesson and adding valuable sailing tips. The Apps can be played on PC or Mac as well.

Currently, the lessons are downloaded onto the user’s computer in the requested device format and can be played on PC or Mac as well. Android and other formats are in production.

For more information, please visit http://LearnToSail.Net

The ‘First in Surfing News’ iPhone app has been released by Surfersvillage and is aimed at surfers, the surf-industry, and lifestyle enthusiasts.

The launch coincided with Apple’s iPad going on sale in the USA.

Available to download for free on the Apple App Store, the tool helps surfers, surf-Industry personnel, surf-media, and lifestyle entusiasts keep up to date with the latest news in surfing from around the world. The Surfersvillage iPhone App is the first and only app dedicated to Surfing News.

The Surfersvillage First in Surfing News iPhone app launch version features:

FREE download to users

Content includes:
- International Surfing News
- Surf-Industry News
- ASP Surfing News
- Regional Surfing News from;
- Africa
- Australia
- Brazil
- Europe
- Hawaii
- USA
http://itunes.apple.com/app/surfersvillage/id364266772?mt=8

First of its kind, iPhone app educating people about beach safety
Rips and currents are the number one hazard on beaches and are the cause of most rescues and many drownings a year.

So the creators of www.mysurfworld.com have just brought out the only iPhone application of its kind educating people around the world about beach safety.

This application provides information about rips, currents, stingers and even sharks.

With everything you need to know about rips and currents, there is now no excuse to get caught in a rip ever again whilst swimming at the beach.

Majority of the people that go to the beach have no idea of the purpose and function of rips and not to mention, why we must have them. Not to worry, all of your questions regarding Rips are answered in this one and only iPhone application.

What you will learn from this application about rips and currents :

- What a rip and a current
- How they are formed
- Why do they exist
- How to identify rips
- How to survive and stay in control
- Why are they dangerous
- Commonly located

The application also provides vital information regarding treatment of jellyfish and blue bottle stings.

Along with facts about sharks and their behaviors and what signs may indicate that a shark could be present and also what may attract sharks.

When majority of people go to the beach they are more than likely to take there mobile phone incase of emergency.

By having this application on your iPhone or iPod you will be able to have all of the information in the palm of your hand allowing you to identify the dangers which may be in front of you before entering the water.

At the moment the first release is only available in English but www.mysurfworld.com are working on localizing the application so it is available in French, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian and German.

The application is now available in the iTunes store.

www.mysurfworld.com

North Star Cruises has announced a brand new opportunity for adventure with the new Solomon Sojourn itinerary on board the magnificent True North ship.

The inaugural eight-day Solomon Sojourn cruise will depart Brisbane in November 2010, with a second cruise running back-to-back.

North Star General Manager Peter Trembath said the stunning Pacific Island Solomon Island region was virtually untouched by tourism.

“We’re offering a truly unique opportunity to experience the beauty of this place and its people,” said Mr Trembath.

The Solomon Sojourn features an exciting mix of culture, vibrant coral reef, history and the stunning South Pacific – as well as True North’s revered line-up of snorkelling, diving, fishing and helicopter exploration.

Highlights of the eight day itinerary include:

• Exploring the volcanic Savo Island
• Fishing, diving and snorkelling at Russell, Uepi, and Kennedy Islands
• Discovering fascinating US war time history
• Soaking up the culture and vibrant atmosphere of local markets and villages
• Swimming in pristine lagoons
• Commercial return flights from Brisbane to Honiara

Mr Trembath urged anyone interested to book early.

“Our maiden adventures on board True North always sell out fast and cabins must be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis,” he said.

Prices for the Solomon Sojourn start at $10,995 per person.

For more information visit:

www.northstarcruises.com.au/solomonsojourn.asp

For full itineraries, departure dates and prices visit www.northstarcruises.com.au

Qantas has launched new technology enabling domestic Mobile Check-in as part of its Next Generation Check-in initiative.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said Mobile Check-in was a key offering of the broader Next Generation Check-in project announced last year which is set to streamline the domestic airport experience for Qantas customers.

“Enhancing the customer experience by increasing speed and ease through our airports is the key driver for the Qantas Next Generation Check-in project,” said Mr Joyce.

“Our research showed us our customers wanted more control over their travel experience. They want to be able to check-in before they even arrive at the airport and then move quickly through the airport to board their flight.

“Mobile Check-in now offers customers the ability to check-in remotely, while on the go, removing another airport process for our busy modern travellers.

“Qantas continues to introduce new services such as Mobile Check-in and domestic Advance Seat Section as part of our Next Generation Check-in roll out, for which a pilot will commence in Perth in July.

” We’ll be unveiling our full Next Generation Check-in service in Sydney later this year.”

Domestic Advance Seat Selection rewards top tier Frequent Flyers, (Platinum, Gold and Silver), with even more choice as these customers now have the ability to preselect their seat online prior to travel.

Mobile check-in provides customers with the ability to check-in for their flight via their personal mobile device, including iPhones, Blackberrys and other web-enabled mobile devices, between 24 hours and 45 minutes prior to departure.

A 2D bar code is sent to their phone which is then scanned by a reader at the gate, and a boarding receipt is printed for the customer with their name, frequent flyer details, flight number and seat allocation.

The Qantas Mobile application was initially launched in 2008. In addition to the introduction of domestic Mobile Check-In,

Qantas Mobile provides customers with the ability to access real time flight information direct to their mobile phone including arrival and departure times, access worldwide Qantas Club lounge locations, contact numbers for Qantas offices worldwide and the up to date timetables for Qantas, QantasLink, Jetstar and codeshare flights for up to 353 days.

Frequent Flyers can access Qantas Mobile with their Frequent Flyer number, last name and PIN to view all bookings recorded against their Frequent Flyer membership, as well as their points balance and date of last activity.

Non-Frequent Flyers can log in with their booking reference and last name to view their booking including passenger details, flight details, check-in information and baggage allowances.

Ports that have launched Mobile Check-in include Sydney Terminal 3, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Gladstone, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Darwin, Hobart, Launceston, Kalgoorlie, Broome, Karratha, Newman, Paraburdoo and Port Lincoln. There are also plans to roll out Mobile Check-in to Adelaide, Cairns, Sydney Terminal 2, Newcastle and Port Hedland in coming months.

The Qantas mobile phone application is accessed by typing qantas.com into a web-enabled mobile browser.

LOG IN AND TAKE OFF – NEW TECHNOLOGY GETS TRAVELLERS MOBILE

Brisbane, Australia: Virgin Blue has launched a revolutionary, innovative new process to check in and board on domestic flights via a traveller’s mobile called “Check-Mate”.

Gone are the days of booking the flight in advance at a desktop computer, getting to the airport, lining up to check-in and getting a printed boarding pass, with the new Check-Mate process eliminating all paper boarding passes in favour of electronic boarding passes on mobile devices including mobile phones, BlackBerry Smartphones and iPhones.

New technology will enable Virgin Blue travellers to make flight bookings, changes and cancellations across the entire Virgin Blue domestic network from their personal devices while on the run and at their convenience.

Phase one of the innovative project was launched this week via “mobile.virginblue.com.au” and a special BlackBerry Virgin Blue application. It offers mobile check-in, seat selection and boarding via 2D barcode scanning on personal handheld mobile devices for Virgin Blue passengers travelling on direct flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, “Being at the forefront of technological advancements is critical to the Virgin Blue strategy to providing our Guests, especially those who are time poor, with the latest innovations to make their travel experience streamlined and speedy.”

“We are excited to be the first airline in the country to be offering a full suite of mobile options, in particular the ability for people to actually make a flight booking, check themselves in on their way to the airport and then go straight to boarding with their 2D barcode.”

The barcode will feature all the key information including flight number, boarding time, seat number and arrival time at destination.

Brett Godfrey added, “Not only does it eliminate paper boarding passes in favour of the more environmentally friendly electronic boarding pass, it heralds the beginning of a new and dynamic era for travellers who rightly demand more sophisticated and advanced means of going about their business and leisure travel.”

Flyers can easily log on via their personal devices and access other Virgin Blue information including Lounge membership information, details on special travel requirements, Velocity information and more.

Further cementing Virgin Blue’s technology leadership in the airline industry, the carrier has launched the downloadable App for BlackBerry smartphone users.

For Velocity members, Virgin Blue is partnering with WorldMate to provide key business travel planning services such as, itinerary management, travel alerts, currency converter and weather forecasts.

The new application is a feature rich and fast travel tool and offers key business travel planning services such as itinerary management, travel alerts, currency converter and weather forecasts.

While other carriers have introduced some mobile functionality such as mobile boarding passes, Virgin Blue is the first to offer a suite of products. The application was developed as a joint project between Virgin Blue’s own Internet Technology team and Dublin based Mobile Travel Technologies.

Future phases will include a range of functions including Australasia wide airport 2D scanning of bar codes for boarding and enriched mobile functionality across the Virgin Blue Group.

About Virgin Blue Group:

The Australian-based Virgin Blue Airline’s Group includes Virgin Blue, second largest domestic carrier in Australia www.virginblue.com.au and short haul international airlines Pacific Blue www.flypacificblue.com and joint venture with the Samoan Government, Polynesian Blue. Together they operate a fleet comprising of 85 modern Boeing 737-NG’s, Boeing 777 and Embraer E-Jet aircraft flying to 30 Australian and 18 international destinations in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.

It also includes V Australia www.vaustralia.com.au the three class boutique style airline offering the acclaimed service for which the Virgin Blue Group is renowned and a unique Australian style. The airline has two in-flight bars, mood lighting including twilight and sunset, bathrooms with piped music including a “ladies only” bathroom and other touches of Australiana from salt and pepper shakers to hidden wallpaper murals.

with Kelly Slater on 3D IMAX Big Screen

Join surfing champion Kelly Slater to see Tahiti and her islands like they’ve never been shown before in the new big screen film Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D.

Opening at IMAX cinemas in Sydney and Melbourne from February 19, Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D sees the world’s most famous surfer set out to conquer the world’s most dangerous wave, Teahupoo on Tahiti Iti (little Tahiti).

Slater teams up with Tahitian big wave surfer Raimana Van Bastolaer to depict the power, majesty and danger of waves reaching their crescendo, providing viewers with a mix of thrills and intense beauty never before seen on the giant screen.

Directed by award-winning IMAX filmmaker Stephen Low, Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D uses extreme surfing to explain where waves come from, their essential make-up and their effect on the ecology and culture of island life.

Tahiti Tourisme Regional Director Robert Thompson said Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D was the first full-length IMAX film to feature the islands and culture of Tahiti.

“Experiencing Tahiti in 3D on an IMAX giant screen is the closest experience to actually holidaying in Tahiti and her beautiful islands,” he said.

“Australians already know Tahiti is one of the world’s most stunning and romantic holiday destinations but we hope Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D will show moviegoers that islands like Bora Bora, Rangiroa and Tahiti itself have so much more to offer as holiday destinations.”

Kelly Slater said filming Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D while surfing Teahupoo was an amazing experience, using new photographic techniques to take the viewer into the very heart of the giant wave.

“The technology used to create this film is going to help audiences understand the incredible power behind waves and will further educate future generations to protect the world’s oceans,” he said.

For more information on Tahiti and her islands, contact Tahiti Tourisme on 1300 655 563 or visit www.tahitinow.com.au. To see more about the movie, go to www.ultimatewavetahiti.com

Orion Expedition Cruises, an Australian expedition cruise line, will increase the size of its fleet with the addition of the Orion II, which will join the 106-passenger Orion in May 2011.

Orion is chartering the Clelia II, a 100-passenger, all-suite luxury expedition cruise ship, which will be renamed Orion II.

Orion II will be based in Southeast Asia, offering expeditions to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Indonesian archipelago, Japan and Borneo.

Details of destinations and itineraries will be released in 2010. The ship recently underwent a $19 million refurbishment with emphasis on technical enhancements and upgraded environmental systems, but it will undergo additional cosmetic enhancements before joining Orion.

Until April 2011, Clelia II will continue to be marketed and operated by Travel Dynamics International, New York, a U.S. expedition cruise company serving the American educational and cultural non-profit groups.

The ship was originally launched in late 1990 as Renaissance 4. It accommodates 100 guests in 50 ocean-view suites that measure 215 to 285 square feet. Accommodations include a sitting area or separate living room, twin or queen-size beds, closets, and air conditioning.

For more information, call 877-ORION-US or visit www.orionexpeditions.com

When she debuts in late 2010, Oceania Cruises’ new Marina will be the first ship to offer luxury suites completely appointed from furniture and fabrics to lighting and bedding using the acclaimed Ralph Lauren Home collection.

To accomplish this industry first, the cruise line tapped New York-based Tocar Interior Design because of the award-winning partners’ keen familiarity with the Polo Ralph Lauren esthetic. Susan Bednar Long, co-founder and president, previously oversaw the decoration of flagship retail stores for Polo across North America. Christina Sullivan, co-founder and vice president, began her career at Polo in the store design department, where she launched Double RL Collection Shops across the U.S.

“To appeal to discerning travellers we wanted the best suites on Marina to feel like a luxurious estate home. We thought out-of-the box, insisted on the finest craftsmanship and sought out the most talented residential designers,” stated Bob Binder, Oceania Cruises’ president. “Tocar has designed the first suites at sea exclusively using furnishings from Ralph Lauren Home.”

A Grand Entrance

The three Owner’s Suites on board Marina are unlike any luxury suites at sea. Upon entering the foyer guests will be struck with a sense of awe, as though they have entered an opulent estate home. Walls of inset Georgian wood paneling are finished in an ivory gloss. Art niches on either side are framed with polished stone and mirrored to reflect the statuary.

An ivory marble entryway with a David Hicks inspired black and camel mosaic tile inset is surrounded by plush black carpeting trimmed with a polished nickel metal edge.

The foyer also contains a mahogany gloss bar with three ivory leather and chrome stools, stately burnished silver armchairs covered in faux crocodile and brown and white faux zebra skins and an oversized ivory brocade and black satin chaise in front of floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping ocean vistas. An ebony baby grand piano serves as the room’s focal point while a brilliant alabaster and polished nickel chandelier hangs overhead.

Luxurious Living & Dining

Guests will spend most of their time in the spacious living and dining room, which exudes the rich, clubby and refined elegance of a world-class yacht. Macassar ebony-veneered chests with silver hardware topped by faux Zebra-framed mirrors flank the entrance. Walnut herringbone wood flooring rings a field of camel carpeting with an inset chocolate border. A full wall of windows affords uninterrupted aft views.

A camel-colored, suede L-shaped Modern penthouse sectional is prominently positioned in the corner.

To its side is a mahogany Anglesey end table and oversized, Mayfair tufted armchair upholstered in coffee-brown velvet; the Planar brushed stainless steel and acrylic coffee table centers the seating area. A 42” flat-screen TV mounted atop a striking nickel and mahogany entertainment center is anchored by a black teak and nickel Aldgate étagère.

An elegant mahogany Mayfair dining table with smooth caramel leather Clivedon dining chairs affords seating for six topped with a classic candelabra chandelier finished in nickel complete the dramatic dining area.

Wraparound teak-covered verandas feature stylish pieces custom-crafted from Ralph Lauren in white marine lacquer suitable for outdoor living.

Sumptuous Sleeping Quarters

For restful nights at sea the Tocar designers used ivory wainscoting and plush silvery grey carpeting to set the stage for the high-style and luxurious bedrooms of the Owner’s Suites. The walls above the wainscoting are covered in Austyn cashmere and all windows and balcony doors are dressed with ivory wool sheers and silver drapery panels in a shimmering, silk/cotton blend.

The bedroom’s centerpiece is the distinctive, Bel Air bed in a deep, library mahogany – its headboard, footboard and side rails upholstered in steel-blue mohair with polished nickel nail-head accents. To its left and right are City Modern bedside chests with stainless trim and hardware, finished in rosewood mahogany. Night-stands are topped with Faceted Crystal Prism lamps with white silk shades.

A custom ceiling fixture in polished nickel with teardrop glass balls provides overhead boudoir lighting.

A Mayfair mirror with a burnished silver-leaf frame and beveled glass adorns one wall, framed by polished nickel sconces with white-pleated silk shades. Across the room is the Ralph Lauren Highbridge desk featuring stainless steel sawhorse base with glass top and Noble Estate side chair upholstered in camel wool seat base with contrasting ivory ribbed seat back and polished nickel nail heads. A Noble Estate settee upholstered in taupe leather with polished nickel sabos and two Hasley slipper-chairs upholstered in a light gray cashmere wool blend provide additional seating.

Throw pillows upholstered in both silver textured fabric with contrasting ivory cord and ivory brocade pattern with contrasting blue double-fringe trim add to the elegance.

The finishing touch on this grand boudoir is a marble, six-fixture master bathroom with both a separate shower and large soaking tub. The whimsical mahogany double vanity is topped with double portholes and accented with nickel ceiling-mounted round pivoting mirrors and Ralph Lauren’s classic small sconces with silk fabric shades.

Casual Elegance Meets High Style

Oceania Cruises’ new Marina has been purposefully designed to carry 1,258 guests to the world’s most alluring ports in elegance and style. Rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and lustrous leathers adorn public rooms. Facilities include 10 dining venues – six of which are open-seating gourmet restaurants, an array of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness center, swimming pool and hot tubs.

Information about Marina itineraries will be revealed in the coming weeks. Reservations can be made now.

For more information or to order a brochure, contact a travel agent, visit www.OceaniaCruises.com.au or call Oceania Cruises on +61 2 9959 1370